December 9, 2009
Minabere Ibelema. Download image.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Associate Professor Minabere Ibelema, Ph.D., has won the Sigma Delta Chi Award, one of journalism's most prestigious prizes.
The Sigma Delta Chi Award, presented by the Society of Professional Journalists, recognizes the best in professional journalism in the categories of print, radio, television, newsletters, art and graphics, online and research.
Ibelema, who teaches news and feature writing in the UAB Department of Communication Studies, is being honored in the research category for his book The African Press, Civic Cynicism and Democracy, published by Palgrave Macmillan. In his book Ibelema argues that civic cynicism is a major obstacle for democracy in African nations and that the African press should intensify its critique of government leaders and the public's attitude toward corruption.
As an example, Ibelema examines the evolution of the Nigerian press, which in the 1960s through the 1980s was guilty of "romancing the gun" and producing "fawning editorials" that perpetuated a corrupt political system. In contrast, says Ibelema, the Nigerian press of the 1990s began reporting on election abuses and government corruption and the impact of corruption on democracy. As a result, Nigeria's independent press was instrumental in stopping a term extension for President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Ibelema is the undergraduate journalism director in the UAB Department of Communication Studies. He is co-author of the book Afro-Optimism: Perspectives on Africa's Advances, and has published numerous journal articles and book chapters. In addition, he has published articles in major magazines and newspapers that include Newsweek, Essence, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and The Birmingham News.
About the Department of Communication Studies
The UAB Department of Communication Studies offers bachelor and graduate degrees in communication management and bachelor degrees in mass communication with specialization in journalism, broadcasting and public relations.